Singapore
I'll never forget my first visit to Singapore (1983), or the planting of the Central Christian Church (1988), which has now seen many thousands baptized in the region, now home to scores of churches. I was asked to come to Singapore as part of our fellowship's Teachers' service team. This is a group of about 15 men and women who understand the key role that biblical teaching plays in church building. After committee meetings, our team gave a presentation on the urgent need for training, before an assembly of international delegates. After Sunday service, my friend Gordon and I enjoyed the hospitality of the "Chinese golden ministry" (Chinese speakers, mainly in the 50+ age range) for lunch and informal discussion.
We then joined thousands of Christian leaders at the International Leadership Conference. This is important because events in one part of the world affect the entire planet. Besides an array of classes, fellowship with colleagues from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe, and discussion on important issues, we also enjoyed a new musical production by Steve Johnson, Build!, focusing on the life of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus before Christ's public ministry. All the cast were Asian, the drama and music were superb, and it's hard to imagine a more powerful or appropriate presentation. This is all the more so since the majority of our world isincreasingly Asian. Build! set the stage for the International Leadership Conference, which shared its title.
Vicki and I also had the opportunity to celebrate our upcoming 30th wedding anniversary with Singaporean friends. It's no small thing to reflect that we have spent most of our life as a married couple. (Weren't we baptized as single college students?)
After Singapore, it was time to head to the massive nearby nation of Indonesia. |
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Hello from Los Angeles! The night is too dark to see the ocean, but if you strain your ears, you can just make out the gentle roar of the Pacific. Covering nearly half the planet, astoundingly deep, filled with mystery, the sea is an apt metaphor for the profound depth of God's wisdom.
Surabaya, Indonesia
Yet the highlight of this leg of the trip was speaking before our sister congregation, the Bali Church of Christ. Among the hundreds of congregations where we have shared round the world, it is no exaggeration to say that none has outdone the Denpesar group for enthusiastic fellowship, warm embraces, photos, laughs, thank-you notes, and exuberant energy!
Yangon, Myanmar
